UP govt asked to reschedule next year’s state board examination

New Delhi: The Election Commission is set to ask the Uttar Pradesh government to reschedule next year’s state board examination dates in consultation with it so as to ensure there is no clash with the assembly polls due early next year. The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) had declared the schedule for the next year’s board examination in Allahabad on Thursday.

Within hours, the Commission shot off letters to poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa not to announce exam schedules without consulting it. Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer T Venkatesh was in Delhi on Friday and held meetings with top poll panel officials, including Deputy Election Commissioner Vijay Dev, in charge of the state.

Sources in the Commission said citing its Thursday’s letter the poll panel is set to ask the Uttar Pradesh government to reschedule its exam dates in consultation with it. “The five states have been asked to consult us before finalising the exam schedule. Therefore, it is clear that Uttar Pradesh will also have to consult the Commission,” a top official said.